Register Now

In order to be able to post messages on the Fly Fishing Forum forums, you must first register.
Please enter your desired user name, your email address and other required details in the form below.

User Name:

Password

Please enter a password for your user account. Note that passwords are case-sensitive.

Password:

Confirm Password:

Email Address

Please enter a valid email address for yourself.

Email Address:

Home Waters

Your home waters

Current Favorite Fly

If you only had one... (change anytime)

Log-in

User Name

Remember Me?

Password

Human Verification

In order to verify that you are a human and not a spam bot, please enter the answer into the following box below based on the instructions contained in the graphic.

Additional Options

Miscellaneous Options

Automatically parse links in text

Automatically embed media (requires automatic parsing of links in text to be on).

Rate Thread

If you like, you can add a score for this thread.

Topic Review (Newest First)

02-10-2003 07:11 AM

artb

Slinger, That is my choice also. Maybe I should find a job so I could pay for it. I would go for the 10 weight also. I told you at the Marlboro show I liked it, so many reasons why. I have the flyer, I look an drool about everyday.

02-09-2003 11:51 PM

Slinger

None, after 2 afternoons of mental abuse my common sense revolted when it came time to actually count out the cash. Take out credit slip, put a little on it each week, by April I`ll have it high enough that it won`t hurt too bad. Gilmore is supposed to have thier 10 wt out end of this month, very nice reel.
Slinger

02-07-2003 05:52 AM

2HandTheSalt

Well...um....so, how do you like the new reel?

" Buy the best and only cry once."

02-02-2003 04:29 PM

BobK

Slinger - a question.....

I hope you took the rod with you to see how the reel balanced it. That could make a difference in how fresh or fatigued you are at the end of the day.

Good luck with your new purchase!

BobK

02-02-2003 09:32 AM

Eddie

If your origional question was, "Should I get a RipTide?", the answer from everyone that has ever fished with one would have been, "YES!".
That reel will be putting a smile on your face long after you have forgotten about the Visa bill.

02-02-2003 02:09 AM

Slinger

Spent the afternoon at the Den with about a dozen reels laid out in front of me, as number 5 would say gathering input. Backed off on the Valentine, considered the reel that ArtB was so excited about at the show, but it doesn`t come in a 10 wt, that was the Gilmore. 2 hours and about 10 opinions later I had Scott order a Loop for me, price kept rising. Into the third hour and 2 very savy charter captains convinced me that the Loop was to fragile for the kind of beating I was likely to give it, said the only way to go was the Riptide, the ante went up again. All the while Billy Pate and Able were getting support from some off the contributors. By 5 I was swamped and suffering a brain cramp. Then the best sugestion of the day came up. Get the Tibor, put a Bimini twist on the end of the backing and I can change lines with ease without going for the spare spool, the price will be the same as the Valentine with the spool. I`ve never spent that much on anything before, but I believe I`ll get the Riptide today.

Asomewhat fatigued and much poorer,
Slinger

02-01-2003 07:43 AM

Slinger

Thanks for the input, I may have to examine this more deeply. I thought the Able was about$200 more.
Slinger

01-31-2003 06:20 PM

removed_by_request

Buy a Loop, they make great reels and worth the cabbage.

01-31-2003 03:26 PM

pmflyfisher

In that case I would go for the Ross Big Game Canyon series for sure.

PM Out

01-31-2003 03:13 PM

2HandTheSalt

Top 10 reasons to NOT buy the Valentine:

10. Can't palm it
9. Two years ago it was $ 200, then the next day it was $ 425.
8. Ancient design looks like it was lifted out of the dumpster behind the Hardy factory in 1918
7. Overpriced by about two-hundred dollars
6. There are about 128 better reels for the money
5. Stamped aluminum. That is right, it is made with the same high-tech manufacturing process that Old Milwaukee uses for can production.
4. Delrin drag, just like a high-end Martin!
3. Everything that is not stamped aluminum is plastic
2. Red metallic clashes with all known colors of Orvis Ascots
1. For the same money, you can buy an Abel Big Game or a Hayden and still have enough money left-over for a fly line and a 12-pack!

But hey, it's your money.

01-31-2003 11:31 AM

pmflyfisher

I was going to by a Valentine a couple of times but never did. Did not know they were still made. As I recall they were fairly heavy and made for salt water fishing.

Do they make a large arbor model ?

Pm Out

01-31-2003 10:26 AM

Penguin

Valentines' Day is fast approaching...

If you don't get one for your sweetie, you'll be in deep kimshie!

Is it "sealed" to keep out salt/sand and the dreaded gradoo?
If you drop it in the sand, or get belted by a wave in the sandy surf, will you be S.O.L.?!

01-31-2003 10:14 AM

BigDave

I am a fan of the direct drive as well. You probably have an advantage with the multiplier for picking up loose line off the deck of a boat, but I enjoy the traditional style like Sean.

If I may make a suggestion, check out the Lamson Velocity V4. I bought one last year and t takes a beating, requires about zero maintenance and has the drag to handle everything from Stripers to Hardtails to 30# bruiser king salmon with ease.

My .02

01-31-2003 09:56 AM

striblue

Steve, i like direct drives..I seem to have more control over the fish during a fight and especially while landing... I do have a Pate Multiplier but that's it... The Valentines are old brand that is always reliable.. there are acouple of "old" guides on the Cape who always use their Valentines.

01-31-2003 09:31 AM

Smcdermott

Devils Advocate

Steve,
I will play devils advocate for you on this one. To me, flyfishing is about the means, not the end. With the exception of maybe BFT or other large bluewater species I am all for a traditional direct drive. Bruised knuckles are part of the enjoyment. Just my .02. With that said I am all for a quality reel that I can beat on and the drag will act the same regardless of conditions.

Sean

This thread has more than 15 replies.
Click here to review the whole thread.